Yoga donkeys 'do not know what to make of it all'
Sharon RookesA therapeutic donkey yoga session has taken place with organisers saying the animals "didn't know what to make of it all".
The first session run by Ark Therapies, a community interest company in Hutton Henry, County Durham, took place on Saturday with the help of seven of their rescued and rehomed donkeys.
Managing director Sharon Rookes said participants left "invigorated" by the outdoor environment and interaction with the animals.
"They were so relaxed that they all started grooming each other and at least four of them fell asleep. And I'm talking about the donkeys here, not the humans," she said.
Ms Rookes said the session was "lovely" and "very tranquil".
"The donkey's absolutely didn't know what to make of it all," she said.
"I envisaged that the donkeys would be all over them but they weren't.
"There was one or two of the more curious donkeys that were coming forward like, 'What's happening here?'"
Sharon RookesThe animal therapy group took on the donkeys in 2016 and Ms Rookes said touching and interacting with them can have a "calming effect"
"It's like a win-win," she said.
"They do a yoga session but they also get the therapy from the donkeys."
The session was held in a field away from the main road.
She said: "All you could hear were the birds and the animals moving around."
The proceeds from the session will go back into looking after the group's animals, including goats, guinea pigs and chickens.
"We're going to do some more, hopefully it will be warmer weather," Ms Rookes said.